Page 575 of 723
572 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
lPRE-SAFE® Brake*: The red dis-
tance warning lamp comes on
while driving.You are too close to the vehicle in front of
you to maintain selected speed.Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
lDISTRONIC Plus* or PRE-SAFE®
Brake*: The red distance warn-
ing lamp comes on while driving
and an acoustic warning
sounds.You are gaining too rapidly on the vehicle
ahead of you.Apply the brakes immediately.
DISTRONIC Plus* or PRE-SAFE® Brake* has
recognized a stationary obstacle on your
probable line of travel.Apply the brakes immediately.
Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver to
avoid hitting an obstacle.
vThe yellow ESP® warning lamp
flashes while driving.The ESP® or electronic traction system has
come into operation because of detected
traction loss in at least one tire.
Cruise control and DISTRONIC Plus* are de-
activated.When driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.
Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
Do not deactivate the ESP®. Exceptions:
(
page 71).
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.
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Page 585 of 723
582 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Text messages
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Apply brake
to shift
from 'P'You have tried to shift the automatic trans-
mission to D, R or N without stepping on
the brake.Step on brake.
Cruise control
- - - mph
(USA only)You have tried to switch on cruise control
below a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h).Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and save the speed.
Cruise control
- - - km/h
(Canada only)ESP® is switched off.Switch on ESP® (page 72).
The automatic transmission is in position P,
R or N.Shift the automatic transmission toD (page 389).
The system is overheated.Wait until the system cools down.
The vehicle is secured in place by the elec-
tronic parking brake.Release electronic parking brake (page 384).
Cruise control
inoperativeCruise control is malfunctioning.Have cruise control checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
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Page 587 of 723
584 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperativeDISTRONIC Plus* is malfunctioning.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE® Brake* are also
not available.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.
DISTRONIC PLUS
overrideYou have depressed the accelerator pedal,
DISTRONIC Plus* is no longer controlling
the speed of the vehicle.Release the accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - mph
(USA only)
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - km/h
(Canada only)You have attempted to activate DISTRONIC
Plus* at a speed below 20 mph (30 km/h)
without the vehicle in front being displayed
in the multifunction display (
page 411).
Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and activate DISTRONIC
Plus* again.
ESP® is switched off.Switch on ESP® (page 69).
The automatic transmission is in position P,
R or N.Shift the automatic transmission toD (page 389).
The system is overheated.Wait until the system cools down.
The vehicle is secured in place by the elec-
tronic parking brake.Release electronic parking brake (page 384).
The driver’s door is open and the drivers
seat belt is unbuckled.Close the driver’s door and fasten your seat belt.
The hood is open.Close the hood (page 513).
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Page 588 of 723
585 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Door Open
Vehicle not in ParkYou have opened the driver’s
door and the automatic trans-
mission is still in position D, R
orN.Before you leave the vehicle, make sure that the automatic transmission
is shift to position P (
page 389) and that the electronic parking brake is
engaged (
page 384).
Front pass. airbag
disabled
See Oper. ManualFront passenger front air bag is
deactivated while driving even
though an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is
occupying the front passenger
seat. Forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense a
decrease in weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 336).
Have the front passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Adjust the seat in a height position (page 339).
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g.
objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged underneath, behind or
around the seat). Such forces may cause the system to sense that an oc-
cupant of a lesser weight than actually present is on the front passenger
seat.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door and switch on the ig-
nition (
page 336).
Monitor the 59indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster
(
page 50) and the multifunction display in the instrument cluster
(
page 256) for the following:
(Continued on next page)
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Page 593 of 723
590 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Radar sensor
deactivated
See Oper. ManualYou attempt to activate DISTRONIC Plus*,
Park Assist* or PRE-SAFE® Brake* even
though you have switched off the radar sen-
sors* on the vehicle.
Check if the radar sensors* may be switched on (page 272).
Switch on the radar sensors* using the instrument cluster
control system.
Service X
dueYour vehicle is due for maintenance service
(
page 551).
Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Service X exceeded
by X days
by XXX mls (km)Service X must be carried within the next ...
or before you have driven ... miles (kilome-
ters) .Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
!Failure to have the vehicle maintained in ac-
cordance with the Maintenance Booklet and
maintenance service indicator at the designated
times/mileage will result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty. For more information, see “Mainte-
nance” (
page 551).
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Page 594 of 723
591 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Shift to P or N
to start engineYou have attempted to start the engine
while the automatic transmission was set to
position R or D.Shift the automatic transmission to P or N (page 389).
Tire pressure monitor
inoperativeThe Advanced TPMS or a wheel sensor is
malfunctioning.Have the Advanced TPMS checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure monitor
inoperative
No wheel sensorsThe Advanced TPMS is deactivated because
wheels without proper sensors were in-
stalled.Have the wheel sensors installed by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
As soon as all wheels with sensors have been mounted, the
Advanced TPMS is switched back on after driving for several
minutes.
Tire pressure monitor
currently unavailableThe Advanced TPMS is unable to monitor
the tire inflation pressure due to:
a nearby radio interference source
the on-board voltage is too low
excessive wheel sensor temperatures
As soon as the causes for the malfunction are no longer present,
the Advanced TPMS automatically becomes active again after a
few minutes driving.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
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Page 597 of 723
594 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
MalfunctionThe capability of the ABC system is restrict-
ed. This can impair the handling.Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Vehicle rising
Please wait a momentThe vehicle’s level is too low while at a
standstill. The vehicle will be raised.Do not drive off.
Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
You may then drive off.
ABS and ESP
inoperative
See Oper. ManualABS, ESP® as well as PRE-SAFE® are
switched off due to a malfunction. BAS is
also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
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Page 598 of 723
595 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABS and ESP
currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualABS, ESP® as well as PRE-SAFE® are not
available due to a malfunction. BAS is also
switched off. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet been completed.
The brake system still functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Drive a short distance with gentle turns
above a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ABS and ESP
®
are again available.
The ABS, ESP® as well as PRE-SAFE® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE®
available.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS, ESP® and PRE-SAFE® are operational again
and the message in the multifunction display
should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does
not disappear:
Have the generator (alternator) and the bat-
tery checked.
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